Trans woman in the Marzili: The opinion of the bath visitors is so divided

In just two Swiss swimming pools, women can practice nudism in a separate area. One of them is the Marzili in Bern. There was a controversial expulsion there on Sunday, which currently employs the whole of Switzerland.

A trans woman who was in the women’s compartment called Paradiesli was handcuffed and taken away by the police. The reason for this was that other women felt disturbed by her presence. The woman concerned initially refused to leave the area, but was then detained by the police and taken away. Several people then demonstrated in the city of Bern and stood up for the woman.

20 Minutes asked visitors to the Marzilis and the Frauenbad in Zurich what they thought of the debate.

“It’s brutal that this woman was turned away”

Melina would have no problem with a trans woman staying in the nudist area for women at Marzili. On the contrary, she says: “I think it’s brutal that she was turned away.” However, the 32-year-old can understand the concerns of other women: “If the person uses the women’s area for their own benefit, then I don’t think it’s okay.”

Sara (22) and Lathusha (25) also agree: the trans woman was wrongly turned away. “If she identifies as a woman, then it has to be accepted that way,” says Sara. Lathusha adds: “The genitals alone do not describe a person’s identity.”

“In the women’s sector this is provocative”

Ursula (73) visits Paradiesli occasionally. “Without prior knowledge of this person, the genitals would have irritated me too,” she says. “If I had had the courage, I would probably have confronted this person,” says Ursula. This might have led to a clarifying conversation. “Then the police intervention and the expulsion would not have been necessary.”

Another Marzili visitor (70) has a different opinion: “The person is clearly a man. He had all the male characteristics. In the women’s sector, it’s provocative,” she says. The paper isn’t enough: “Then I can be a man tomorrow and go to the men’s department.”

Can be “irritating”.

In Zurich, many visitors to the Stadthausquai women’s pool see no problem with trans women using the pool. At the same time, they share the view that it can be “irritating” in a nudist area.

A visitor says: “In a nudist area I would have to get used to it because the person doesn’t look the same as the other women.” The Zurich woman simply doesn’t want any gawkers, but rather a protected environment. In principle, however, she trusts the employee at the checkout not to let men in.

This is one of the key differences to the women’s area in the Marzili bathroom. The Marzili is free, so there is no entry check. The women’s area is separated from the rest of the pool by a wall and a door, but entry is not controlled there either.

ID check?

Other Zurich women surveyed are calling for better awareness-raising among swimming pool staff. Nora (20) can imagine that trans people and their intentions are often misunderstood – especially in a situation where everyone is naked. This is precisely why employees need to be trained to seek conversation. “Just because someone feels personally uncomfortable is not a basis for attacks or exclusion,” she says. She doesn’t think the legal approach of checking the ID of those affected is ideal, but she sees it as a possible clue.

At the same time, Zurich bathers trust the staff of their women’s pool: “Today a man accidentally came in, but was quickly escorted out – so I didn’t feel uncomfortable,” says Estela (29). Especially in the women’s pool, she appreciates that everyone can show themselves as they want. Her colleague Mara-Sarina (24) sees it similarly. So far, the two have never experienced an escalating incident.

Rosanna (39) knows the Bernese Paradiesli well. “Almost everyone there is bloody,” she remembers. In addition, it is deeply rooted in many people to automatically equate a penis with a man. That’s why she can understand that it can be “irritating” at first to see a person with male sexual characteristics in such a place – “especially because clothing that gives external clues to gender identity is often missing.” However, it is clear to her: “If a person feels like a woman and lives as a woman, she should have 100 percent space in a bathroom like this.” Overall, it is also a difficult topic for her, to which there are no simple black and white answers, says Rosanna.

Josephine Schertenleib (jos), born in 2001, has been working for 20 minutes since September 2024 and is part of the regional team.

Fabienne Gnos (fgn), born in 2002, has been working at 20 Minuten since February 2026. She is an intern in the Bern department.

Zoé Stoller (sto) has been working at 20 Minuten since 2021 and is deputy head of the regions department.